In 1420, the construction of the left tower started. The
tower now reaches 123 m (the highest in the Low Lands in its time). It had a duible
function: in fact, it served as belfry and was paid by the city of
Antwerp. Still today, the city owns it. Hence, from time to time, you notice flags
on it, hihgly unusual for church-towers. The right tower, that was meant to be the
real chruch tower, even had to be higher. The construction started in 1430, but it
never was finished. The main porch was crowned by a
beautiful wimperg.

Because this church was built on wet grounds, out of the city, a lot of attention
was
given to the foundations. It is said, that the architect used cow-skins under it.

The emperor Charles even thought to enlargen the building. In 1521, he laid the
first
stone for this, according to plans by Rombout Keldermans and Domien de Waghemakere.
This is still visible when looking at the streats on the east-side. A heavy fire in
1533 stopped those plans from being executed. Also the interious was seriously
damaged then.

Few years later, the church got elected to bisschop's seat (katheder)
for the (then new) diocese of Antwerp. Hence its title of 'cathedral'.

The icinoclastic furies of 1566 and 1581 lead to a lot of damage. During the
French
government (Napoleon), the church plundered. Town building master
J.Blom
succeeded in delaying plans to demolish the catherdral, so it survided the French
period.

The are interesting grave-stones, like the one for Isabella of
Bourbon (died in 1465) with a brass lying statue of her. This comes
from the Sint-
Michielsabbey in Antwerp. The grave-stone for bishop A.Capello from 1676 was made by
door Arthus Quellin the Younger in 1676.

The cathedral is world-famous for its paintings. You find Pieter Paul
Rubens' 'cross-hanging' and 'taking off the cross'. But there are ofcourse also
paintings by less famous masters, like 'Crying for Jesus' en 'Wedding in Cana' by
M. de Vos, 'Jesus' 15 bleedings' en 'Jesus with the scribers' by
Frans Francken, 'Taking off the cross' by A. van Noort
(ende 16th century) .